I am trying to plan my new PC that I will be building and am trying to decide on the processor, video card and OS. I would like this PC to last as long as possible without upgrading.

The only recent game that I will likely be playing is LFS and maybe the new ARCA sim(I know, strange combination). I also use the PC for photo & video editing and general office stuff.

Does LFS currently use more than one core? The Intel Q6600 with 4 2.4 GHz processors is about the same price as as a E6850 with 2 3.0GHz processors. Which one of these will be better supported in the next several years?

And what about the graphics card? I would like to get a 8800GTS 384, but I am thinking of a 8600GTS to save some cash. Any Thoughts?

And last what about the OS? I am thinking that Vista will be better in the long run and was thinking about the 64-bit version. How well does LFS support Vista 64?

I know that there is a good chance that no one knows the answer to the future requirements, but I thought that I would ask before spending the cash.

At this time, there is no software which uses 4 cores and not many which fully use 2 cores. I doubt LFS is programmed to use 2 cores, but I'm sure both are utilized in some way. I'm not sure which one I'd get...probably the quad core would make more sense in the long run.

As for the GPU, if you have the money get the 8800. If you get the 8600, after a year or so you will want to upgrade to the 8800 anyway, so just get it now as it will last for a long time.

As for the OS, Vista would be good in the long run (even though I like my XP the way it is :tilt. And yes LFS works fine on 64-bit systems, though it's still a 32-bit program. Also, until LFS S3 comes out, the requirements won't change. S3 won't come out for another few years (just a guess), so no need to worry about it now.

Can't say much about Quad or Duo-processors but all I know is that it is not much programs, games, w/e that supports Quad-core at the moment but maybe in the future.

A 8800GTS would be better and that is what I would choose.

Vista? It is nice in the beginning but then you notice flaws and things that aren't really that nicely done. So I would choose XP Pro Service Pack 2 (SP3 is on the way) at any time at the moment. Atleast wait until Service Pack 1 has been release for Vista before you get it, that is my advice.

LFS runs great on Vista x64, but tbh the drivers aren't always up to standard.

LFS isn't multithreaded (only uses one core) and tbh i don't think ti will be for a while - but more and more games are becoming multi-threaded and imo you'd be a fool to plump for the E6850

Video Editors tend to be multi-threaded, so that .6 GHz you "loose" you gain with the 2 extra cores.

LFS will probably get more demanding, but with my "lowly" 7950GT and Xeon X3210 (think of it as a 2.8 GHz version of the Q6600) i can get 50-odd FPS in a full grid , and 40 FPS with a full gird of AI (this is JUST as they start moving) from the VERY back of the grid, and all of this is with 8xAA, 16xAF rediculous amounts of hi-res textures.

When i'm driving about in a "pack" of about 10 cars i easily sit at vSync, and alone it would probably break 150 fps.

Ie - i've got LFS open on another monitor watching a race on "CTRA Bump & Jump". Lots of cars, alll rubbing etc on a layout - 110 fps :P

EDIT - My 7950GT is roughly half the speed of an 8800GTS

EDIT 2 - Erm, WinRAR and 3DSMax both make full use of Quads - SupCom puts 100% load on core 1, 40% on the other 2, 10% on the other.

Alan Wake is probably going to be the first game to make use of 4 cores.

Either processor should be fine for LFS, even for s3 (probably).
If your going with an 8 series card, you will want to go with Vista to
take advantage of the new DX10 technology, which I've heard ASR
will be taking advantage of, though not at the initial release.
If your not really stretched for cash, you might also want to run duel graphics cards, which will also require a compatible motherboard.
Someone else with a little more knowledge should be able to help you more,
especially with an apropriate PSU and cooling, but i'd thought i'd give my input anyway.
Good luck.

Supreme Commander used 2 or 4 cores?

Quote from Jakg :

L...LFS isn't multithreaded (only uses one core)...

And only uses one vga (not SLI support)

Don't worry. LFS is still in low-res textures era with DX8. Doesn't look like that will change before S3 if even then and swap to DX10 or multi-threaded processing doesn't happen in one night. So basicly you can close your eyes and choose randomly any computer parts, any modern computer will run LFS better than fine. So when you design your new computer specs, drop LFS from the list and design it other games in mind that you might play in the future.

Quote from NitroNitrous :

And only uses one vga (not SLI support)

SLI works with LFS...

Quote from NitroNitrous :

And only uses one vga (not SLI support)

That's odd, because when i had my SLi setup (and it was working) not only did it work, it was also faster with SLi enabled

Quote from Eleanor SpeedGT :

Supreme Commander used 2 or 4 cores?

4 Cores, but it puts lots of load on one core, and not too much on the others - for me it's 100% on core 1, 50% on the two other cores and about 20% on the last core.

Really? When I had my SLI setup, both cards was working, but fps didn´t increase. Maybe the SLI mode?

That's because LFS is mostly CPU limited. With an SLI setup you have two graphics cards sitting there bored to death doing nothing, instead of just one.

Quote from NitroNitrous :

Really? When I had my SLI setup, both cards was working, but fps didn´t increase. Maybe the SLI mode?

From my very limited testing (SLi was INCREDIBLY unstable for me, now i'm much less of a n00b i don't think my PSU was up to it) AFR made the best FPS increase.

Quote from AndroidXP :

That's because LFS is mostly CPU limited. With an SLI setup you have two graphics cards sitting there bored to death doing nothing, instead of just one.

No cpu limited I think. My SLI was very simple (2x7600GT) and my cpu is an Opteron 180 @ 3Ghz. In other games the fps increased until 110% comparing with one 7600GT, but in LFS I dind´t see any diference

Read again.

LFS is mostly CPU limited. This means a better CPU will give you better framerates in LFS. A better, or multiple graphics cards will in most cases NOT improve your fps.

I think it will be a bit uncomfortable during the transition from S2 to S3. Many people who play LFS with older rigs will want to be able to play at a decnt lick, but those with better pc's will want to see more eye candy.
Is it possible for Scawen and co to please both camps?

Quote from AndroidXP :

Read again.

LFS is mostly CPU limited. This means a better CPU will give you better framerates in LFS. A better, or multiple graphics cards will in most cases NOT improve your fps.

Yeah, I didn´t noticed, my English is not perfect
Ok I understand now